A growing population has brought increased traffic and, unfortunately, more vehicle collisions caused by distracted drivers. If you have been injured by a motorist who was messaging on their phone while behind the wheel, our experienced car crash attorneys at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, LLP could help protect your rights. Our firm has handled many cases involving texting while driving car accidents in Midland, TX, and we could review your claim and help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Why Is Texting So Dangerous?
Texting is an especially dangerous distraction that involves the driver’s hands, thoughts, and vision. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration considers texting one of the the most hazardous distractions for motorists.
Driving Blind
When motorists fail to pay adequate attention to the road ahead and surrounding traffic, they greatly increase the risk of a collision. Typing or reading a text takes an average of five seconds during which a vehicle moving at highway speeds can travel the length of a football field. A lot can happen while a motorist takes their eyes off the road to read a text message.
Fatalities and Injuries
The CDC reports that distracted drivers cause about 3,000 deaths and more than 400,000 injuries each year nationwide. Messaging on a phone is the most dangerous form of distraction, putting all road users at serious risk.
If a motorist messaging on their phone injures you in a vehicle collision in Midland, our lawyers could help you hold them accountable and recover your losses.
Texting and Vehicle Collisions
When drivers divert their attention to their phones, a wide range of vehicle collisions can occur, though some are more common than others.
Rear-End Collisions
When a motorist focuses on their phone instead of the traffic ahead, they are much more likely to cause rear-end collisions. This happens because they may miss changing traffic patterns and fail to react in time. Rear-end collisions are especially dangerous leaving the driver in front vulnerable to significant injuries.
Rollover Crashes
A driver distracted by a text is more likely to make abrupt or exaggerated steering corrections. These sudden movements can cause a vehicle to tip and roll. Rollover crashes are particularly severe, and when they happen in moving traffic, multi-vehicle pileups can quickly follow.
Sideswipe Incidents
Messaging while behind the wheel makes it harder for motorists to stay safely in their lanes, often causing them to sideswipe another road user. Veering into the side of another vehicle is extremely hazardous. It can trigger a chain reaction involving multiple vehicles, as the impact may force the struck driver into adjacent lanes, putting more road users at risk.
Side-Impact Collisions
Side-impact collisions often occur in intersections when one driver strikes the side of another who is already passing through. Intersections are common sites for serious traffic collisions that often involve multiple vehicles, and motorists who divide their attention between their phone screen and traffic are a frequent cause of these collisions.
If you have been struck by a motorist distracted by their phone, our Midland-based lawyers could represent your interests and seek financial recovery on your behalf.
Your Legal Damages
If you are injured in a car wreck caused by a driver reading or writing text messages, you may be entitled to compensation for your full losses, including:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Mental trauma
- Permanent disabilities
Our attorneys could help you hold the negligent driver to account and pursue financial recovery for your losses after a wreck in Midland.
Contact a Midland Lawyer Today After a Crash With a Driver Who Was Texting
Texting while driving car accidents in Midland, TX are all too common. If you have been injured, you need skilled legal guidance representing your interests. The seasoned accident attorneys at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, LLP are ready to help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Your claim could have a significant impact on your your recovery and future—contact us online or call our firm today.
